2011 Ford Transit 2.2L Diesel · YN11 FBY

A pattern of structural and mechanical wear is clearly visible across the MOT history of this 2011 Ford Transit, with rear suspension corrosion, an oil leak, and front brake disc deterioration recurring as advisories at multiple consecutive tests. The most recent examination on 15 June 2026 recorded a pass, but flagged an oil leak (not excessive), deterioration of the registration plate, corrosion to the rear suspension component mounting area, and a corroded rear leaf spring anchor bracket. The 2025 test repeated the oil leak advisory alongside front brake disc pitting and a second registration plate advisory, while the 2024 pass again noted the oil leak and front brake disc wear. Earlier history is less reassuring: a February 2023 test was failed outright with a dangerous defect recorded for rear brake pad material below 1.5mm thickness, a dangerous tread-depth breach on the offside rear tyre, an ineffective offside windscreen wiper, and a major engine management warning lamp malfunction. Taken together, the record shows one outright failure involving safety-critical braking, tyre, visibility, and emissions systems, alongside a chronic advisory pattern spanning brake discs, suspension mountings, bodywork corrosion zones, seat belt anchorage areas, and a persistent engine oil leak. The overall trend is one of accumulating age-related wear rather than improvement, with corrosion-related advisories appearing on structural and suspension components. The recorded mileage of 83,610 miles across approximately 15 years equates to an annual accumulation of roughly 5,500 miles, which is low for a commercial vehicle of this type. Such low usage may reflect periods of light duty, but it can also indicate extended standing time, which tends to accelerate corrosion of underbody and suspension components and degrade rubber and sealing items. The advisory history supports the corrosion consequence: rear suspension mountings, rear leaf spring anchor brackets, power steering pipes, and seat belt anchorage areas in the outer sills have all been flagged for surface corrosion. Although mileage itself has not accumulated quickly, the mechanical story is one of corrosion-led deterioration affecting load-bearing and safety-related structure, consistent with age rather than high-distance wear. A prospective buyer should treat the persistent oil leak advisory as a priority inspection item. On a cold start, listen for any change in engine note or visible drips beneath the engine and bellhousing, and check the undertray and sump area for fresh oil film. The oil leak has been recorded at four consecutive tests, so even though it has not been classed as excessive, the source should be identified before purchase; common Transit culprits at this age include the front and rear crankshaft seals, timing cover gasket, and rocker cover gasket. On the test drive, monitor the oil pressure warning lamp during idle and watch for any increase in exhaust smoke under load. Given that the engine management warning lamp was inoperative at the 2023 failure, it is worth confirming that the lamp functions correctly during ignition and that no stored fault codes are present, as a recurring MIL issue could point to sensor, catalytic converter, or DPF-related faults. The braking and suspension advisories warrant close physical inspection. The front brake discs have been flagged for pitting and scoring at three of the last four tests, so on a test drive expect to feel any vibration or judder through the steering wheel under moderate braking, and listen for grinding or scraping sounds. Inspect disc lipping visually and check pad material thickness directly through the caliper aperture. The 2023 failure recorded rear brake pads below the 1.5mm minimum, so confirm the current pad condition and the operation of the rear calipers, looking for any binding or uneven wear. For the suspension, the 2023 advisory noted slight play in the nearside front suspension arm ball joint; on a test drive, listen for clonking or knocking from the front end over uneven surfaces and check for uneven tyre wear. The rear leaf spring anchor bracket corrosion advisory suggests inspecting the springs and anchor points for cracks or advanced section loss, particularly where the spring eye meets the bracket. Finally, examine the outer sills, seat belt anchorage areas, and chassis rails for any corrosion that has progressed beyond surface rust, as corrosion in these structural zones can compromise long-term integrity even when not yet classified as serious.